Petty Officer 1st Class Malik Leslie hugs his children, from left, Layla, 3, Malik, 7, and Seth, 5, before his deployment on the Harry S. Truman from Norfolk Naval Station, Va., for a nine-month cruise to the Persian Gulf on Monday, July 22, 2013. less

Petty Officer 1st Class Malik Leslie hugs his children, from left, Layla, 3, Malik, 7, and Seth, 5, before his deployment on the Harry S. Truman from Norfolk Naval Station, Va., for a nine-month cruise to the ... more

Jacob Patterson, 2, and his mother Ashley see off his father, Petty Officer 2nd Class Mark Patterson as he deploys on the Harry S. Truman from Norfolk Naval Station, Va., for a nine-month cruise to the Persian Gulf on Monday, July 22, 2013. less

Jacob Patterson, 2, and his mother Ashley see off his father, Petty Officer 2nd Class Mark Patterson as he deploys on the Harry S. Truman from Norfolk Naval Station, Va., for a nine-month cruise to the Persian ... more

Photo: Stephen M. Katz, Associated Press

Jacob Patterson, 2, and his mother Ashley see off his father, Petty... Photo-4952662.66899 - Houston Chronicle

Image 3 of 7

Alyssa Gutierrez holds her daughter Araceli, from San Antonio, as she sees off her husband Petty Officer 3rd Class Andres Gutierrez as he deploys on the Harry S. Truman from Norfolk Naval Station, Va., for a nine-month cruise to the Persian Gulf on Monday, July 22, 2013. less

Alyssa Gutierrez holds her daughter Araceli, from San Antonio, as she sees off her husband Petty Officer 3rd Class Andres Gutierrez as he deploys on the Harry S. Truman from Norfolk Naval Station, Va., for a ... more